Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe Arrested: A Nation Questions the Price of Service

S. Adam, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Asia

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Image Source: tamilguardian.com

Colombo, August 22, 2025 – Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the leader who guided Sri Lanka through its darkest economic storm, has been arrested today by the current government on allegations of misusing state funds.

Before diving into the arrest, it is important to recall what Wickremesinghe achieved for the country. When Sri Lanka faced its worst-ever financial crisis in 2022 — with empty fuel stations, food shortages, and a nation on the brink of collapse — he took the responsibility no one else was willing to accept.

During his tenure, Wickremesinghe:

• Secured the IMF bailout worth billions of dollars, which prevented total state bankruptcy.

• Stabilized the rupee and rebuilt foreign reserves when they had hit rock bottom.

• Restored electricity and fuel supplies, ensuring essential services did not collapse entirely.

• Reopened international trust, convincing lenders and global partners that Sri Lanka could recover.

  
  

These measures were not without hardship. Austerity policies, tax hikes, and painful reforms brought criticism. But they also laid the foundation for recovery and gave millions of Sri Lankans a chance to breathe again after months of despair.

And yet today, his name appears on an arrest paper. The charge? Spending around LKR 16.9 million of government funds on a personal trip to London for his wife’s graduation ceremony.

Even if true, the figure raises a burning question for the people: is 16.9 million rupees truly worth more than the billions Wickremesinghe saved for this country?

This arrest is unprecedented. Never before has a former head of state in Sri Lanka been detained over such allegations. Critics are calling it politically motivated, arguing that instead of honoring the man who pulled the nation back from collapse, the government has chosen to humiliate him.

For Sri Lankans, this is not just about Ranil Wickremesinghe. It is about how a country treats those who step forward in times of chaos.

Yes, accountability is vital. But respect is equally important. Ranil Wickremesinghe’s name should be remembered as the leader who kept Sri Lanka afloat when no one else dared — not dragged through the mud over an amount that pales in comparison to the value of his service.

So, is LKR 16.9 million truly equivalent to saving a nation? The people of Sri Lanka will decide.